The Judge occupied a few minutes in recounting the evidence, and presenting the issue, and without leaving their seats the jury rendered a verdict for the whole amount of damages claimed.

The bold, vain-glorious proprietor was a ruined man.  The consciousness of power had vanished.  The law had grappled with him, shaken him once, and dropped him.  He had had a hint from his counsel of Mr. Balfour’s intentions, and knew that the same antagonist would wait but a moment to pounce upon him again, and shake the life out of him.  It was curious to see how, not only in his own consciousness, but in his appearance, he degenerated into a very vulgar sort of scoundrel.  In leaving the Court-room, he skulked by the happy group that surrounded the inventor, not even daring to lift his eyes to Mrs. Dillingham.  When he was rich and powerful, with such a place in society as riches and power commanded, he felt himself to be the equal of any woman; but he had been degraded and despoiled in the presence of his idol, and knew that he was measurelessly and hopelessly removed from her.  He was glad to get away from the witnesses of his disgrace, and the moment he passed the door, he ran rapidly down the stairs, and emerged upon the street.

CHAPTER XXIX.

WHEREIN MR. BELCHER, HAVING EXHIBITED HIS DIRTY RECORD, SHOWS A CLEAN PAIR OF HEELS.

The first face that Mr. Belcher met upon leaving the Court-House was that of Mr. Talbot.

“Get into my coupe,” said Talbot.  “I will take you home.”

Mr. Belcher got into the coupe quickly, as if he were hiding from some pursuing danger.  “Home!” said he, huskily, and in a whimpering voice.  “Home!  Good God!  I wish I knew where it was.”

“What’s the matter, General?  How has the case gone?”

“Gone?  Haven’t you been in the house?”

“No; how has it gone?”

“Gone to hell,” said Mr. Belcher, leaning over heavily upon Talbot, and whispering it in his ear.

“Not so bad as that, I hope,” said Talbot, pushing him off.

“Toll,” said the suffering man, “haven’t I always used you well?  You are not going to turn against the General?  You’ve made a good thing out of him, Toll.”

“What’s happened, General?  Tell me.”

“Toll, you’ll be shut up to-morrow.  Play your cards right.  Make friends with the mammon of unrighteousness.”

Talbot sat and thought very fast.  He saw that there was serious trouble, and questioned whether he were not compromising himself.  Still, the fact that the General had enriched him, determined him to stand by his old principal as far as he could, consistently with his own safety.

“What can I do for you, General?” he said.

“Get me out of the city.  Get me off to Europe.  You know I have funds there.”

“I’ll do what I can, General.”

“You’re a jewel, Toll.”